New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-22
JACOB SHARP'S BATTLE.
THE COMPLAINTS FACE TO FACE.
A STRANGE WAY TO GET A JUR

battles that has ever taken place at the criminal
bar OF this country There nothngo the shyster about
the who engaged in his defence They are going
about their work with every indication or organization
and prearranged management They have not resorted
the contemplate tricks the bombas the burlesque the
melodramatc oratory and tho lurid bypay when nav
dsgracefuy conspicuous in the previous cases
and especially in the trials OF Jaehne and Ceary They
have proceeded with deadly seriousness. During tho
five days that have been spent In an effort to obtain
jury, scarcely incident has occurred to render less
sombre the tragic business of the hour There have been
no undgnhed bowls at the press unprofcssional ar
fragments OF the prosecution and no insulting attacks
ilconceaed beneath insncere Difference. upon the
Judge On the contrary the methods of the defence nave
been dangerously exemplary Theyhave revealed an Icy
resolution. Mr. sckney and his associates are trying ths
for something beyond the verdict OF tho jury Inc
contest is between them and Mr. Justice Barrett as well
between them and the prosecution. They are trying
their for the Court OF Appeals.
The in court presents an interesting picture
Upon the bench sits strong refined looking Of just
about the average height and OF powerful physique His
head is large and admirably shaped The brow Is fu,
very suggestive OF Henry Ward Beechers. Neatly
trimmed black hair in which the gray is making slight
intrusion, the head without hiding Its symmetry
The face Is broad, and It's fine white skin contrasts
handsomely with tile black beard that grows upon the
cheeks and chin Frmness and good humor arc the con-
spcuous expressions Of the mobile lips and gentle dig
nifty dwes upon the whole cOuntenance Judge Barrett
is nnelookng OF eminently Judicial demeanor.
Two long tables occupy prominent positions before
the judges bench Tho first OF these faces
the jury box and Is occupied by the pros
ecutou. MI MARITIME, Mr.. Nicol, Colonel Fell
lows and Mr. sempo arc in constant attendance
at the trial. At tho other table sit the distinguished
men whose services are enlisted to defend sharp.
Mr. stckney's face Is curiosity. Ills broad brow
supports dudsh bang, evidently the object OF much
pride, not to say affection His nose Is long, thin ana
prominent His refined mouth, with its wide, mobile
lips. shows him be both sensitive and spirited Ito
wears heavy, long brown mustacho which extends
far on either side OF his narrow face, face almost TIL
angular in shape Loyalty perhaps the most conspicu-
Gus expression of his countcnanco. In action Suck
noys power Is revealed His voice. delightfully."- low but
moduated as TO convey every tono no DESIRES SPEAKS
with studied precision. He never halts for word HIS
sentences are never redundant Fluency force aud ac-
curaoy combine TO Give effect 10 what he says
Just behind Mr.. stlckney sits John L. Parsons. who
looks precisely what he h sharp as neole ncisiyc add
nervousy quick lila thin lips meet in Wide straight
line ht lends decisive cast 10 his counteuance His gray
hair none too ponteou parted far upon ono slide and
neses tightly about his head BY his side Judge Fuhcr
ton grayhairod dlgnfed. with porty Franc ana
big round aco sits watchfu OF evory detail OF the case
now and then Offering quiet suggestion, but for tho
most part preserving close espionage upon the proceed
ng on tho sdo OF tho table Judge Nelson has his
domain Ho into tho case only day or two before
IL begnn lie Il n lawyer "ot the old school, quaint ana
in his bearing most deferental to the court aud
most polite 10 his associates and opponents Perhaps
the Judge was deemed particularly desirable addition
"a the corps OF counsel OF his familiarity with the
old common law and the code He was In the state
Senate and was chairman Of the judiciary COMMITTEES at
tie time OF its adoption and may DO presumed to know
moro OF less uncertain but accommodating
weapon OF legal dueing tho intent OF tho Legislature
Judge Nelson has thus far had charge OF the selection OF
Jurors on the part OF the defence and tho way he IS e
alone by his associates, tho way they all NINA
their own business shows that they are working
mon n definite understanding Peter Mitchell
committees the list OF sharps active counsel and mani
fests groat qualities OF adaptaby lie Is criminal
lawyer and might feo somewhat out OF place among al
those highnylng civil birds But man who can rise
from the low estate OF bartender TO recognized place
among the circle OF criminal lawyers all by MS own iorce
OF character making himself his hardest tasKmaster mas
n great deal OF nerve lie Is doubtless OF much use 70
Af stickney The experience no went through In the
ONe case has oiton poked ts wary nose through tho
tactics OF tho defence during tho past week.
ono would think that II there is any way under the sun
n, en,na sharp out OF Sing Sing It could not all
nteects ono would suppose that he had lawyers
enough for all the purposes OF prolonged BATTLE ana
vet these by no means close the list Lewis Cass Ledyard
ia careful student OF all that goes on HIS partner MI
Carter Is retained for the special purpose OF arguing
single point OF law which Is TO arise wnen 'no
State attempts 10 put in the evidence onarP
c,ve before the Senate Committee. IL VIII
Lao An argument well worth going many miles 10
hear John H. Bird, Kerrs particular lawyer, ana
Frank J. Dupignac who represents MI lachmohn' arc
also close at hand and available Tor Keller uuty
once heard OF a couple OF lawyers who were engage
on different sides OF case involving large ProPoI'1
and rreat porsonal eehns between their clients Ihey
human cattle came along ignorance dumbnesS Vicious
ess and Indifference were all tho panel contained Az
last when the iurybox full It presented spectacle
Of homeless stupidity Tho lawyers looked at eaeh o'ner
In CONSERVATION
"Must we submit such a caso as this to that mobP
vhlspered the plaintiffs attorney to his adversary
"Iat's sit down and figure ttle," the DEFENDANTS
counsel replied
They sat and figured and finally looked up from their
napcr 10 the mob and then To the ainiSeu court
your Honor please" said tho palntins Attorney mo uo
offers 20 settle this and my client agrees
The work OF the past week. ia fact the WORK At Ill
these doodle trials in jurygettins has forciby caed
tis story TO mind These trials have lurhShoi an Aeou
rate analysis OF tbs jurylist In Ne"fork' anu "
mild characterization OF Commissioner Reilly 70 say 'na'
nuat for his Office rho jurors summoned last week
oro n fair sample OF his list which no says contains
: o0O names [ have studied the panels with grea,
80 On Monday out OF 100 persons Summoned, twenty
one were gn-m Keepers AMI sxty-foui were loresne'
Tho could scarcely understand tho English lansuaso'
twenty por cent panel are naturally beyond tho
reach OF a subpoena Some aro scx some are away ana
soo arc absent upon other reasonable excuses Out Oh
,hose who obey the call not more tnan .ch
arc nt TO serve In any case oh iue'u4y
,horo vera twenty-one nquor'deaers ana sAsy-'"o
,orob,nors On Wednes day the quordeaiers hunpereu
a',.en and the foreigners nfysix On Thursday there
zere twenty-five rum sellers snd sixtyseven foreigners,
and on Friday the llquOrdealers numbered seventeen
and the foreigners fortyour The panel Tor tomorrow
n, worse than ever contains thirty persons VINO
sell liquor and almost every name OF Foreign souh
The work of the Commissioner OF jurors ~ VI ~"
,sS ,,b many difficulties But there can be no ex-
ss. Cor .ueh shown as this Indeed Mr. Reilly offers
none when he was examined by Mr. Niooll as 10 MS
method OF obtaining names his list he said he got
them from the city directory That Ia not the way 70 oo
i ,rv list He should go TO the Department. Oh iaAos